Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 44-47

Abstract: This paper reviews the methods used by an automotive manufacturer in enhancing the Supply Chain Management (SCM) system through a setup termed as Product and Vendor Development Programme (PVD). PVD was developed to eliminate problems faced due to late delivery and poor quality of supplies and availability of supplies at the lowest possible costs. The paper explores the methodologies that have been employed by the PVD. Results overtime show that the PVD has improved the SCM system especially in the areas of quality and delivery services, other services and as well as cutting costs that manufacturers had to face due to problems that arose in the shortcomings of the supply services. The PVD has managed to promote the Localization Programme and has also been able to establish qualified vendors. Findings also establish that the PVD team is the key to the success for development of the PVD programme. The paper presents an original discussion about viewing PVD programme from a successful automotive manufacturer.

Abstract: To recover QAM signals at the receiver of blind equalizer, a Fuzzy C-means clustering Neural Network Blind Equalization Algorithm based on Signal Transformation (ST-FNN-BEA) is proposed. The proposed algorithm uses signal transformation method to debase the computational complexity of equalizer input signals and speed up the convergence rate, and makes use of fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm dividing the equalizer input signals into each cluster center with different membership values to improve the equalization performance. The proposed ST-FNN-BEA outperforms Neural Network Blind Equalization Algorithm (NN-BEA) and Neural Network Blind Equalization Algorithm based on Signal Transformation (ST-NN-BEA) in improving convergence rates and reducing mean square error. The performance of ST-FNN-BEA is proved by the computer simulation with underwater acoustic channels.

Abstract: Amorphous silicon films prepared by PECVD on glass substrate has been crystallized by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at the same temperature for different time. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM), it is found that the grain size is biggest crystallized at 720°C for 8 min, an average grain size of 28nm or so is obtained. The thin film is smoothly and perfect structure.

Abstract: Amorphous silicon films prepared by PECVD on glass substrate has been crystallized by conventional furnace annealing (FA) at different temperatures. From the Raman spectra and scanning electronic microscope (SEM), it is found that the thin film grain size present quantum states with annealing temperature.

Abstract: High power continuous wave (CW) CO2 laser cladding was performed on H13 steel, pre-coated by superfine WC. After laser cladding, the materials were tempered for 6 hours. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphologies of the cladding layer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to analyze the microstructure of the cladding layer. The changes of microhardness, temper resistance and wear resistance were tested. The microhardness of cladding layer before tempering was 1.4 times of that of base metal and 1.9 times after tempering at 500°C. The wear resistance and tempering resistance were improved.

Abstract: In the field of robot vision, edge feature based stereo matching algorithm can reconstruct the targets with clear contours, which needs accurate and continuous target edges been extracted. In the paper, the smoothing filter operator was designed based on the discrete criteria of edge extraction and its correspondence optimal linear filter. Edge extraction was carried out incorporated the nonmaximum suppression and two thresholds techniques. The discrete criteria based multi-scale edge extraction method was studied with full use of the multi-scale character of the edge information. The detected multi-scale edges were synthesized to obtain the accurate and continuous single pixel wide edge. Then an edge feature based stereo matching algorithm was proposed to obtain 3D information of target. The experimental results demonstrate that the method can effectively suppress disturbance in outdoor environment and reconstruct target contour clearly.

Abstract: Bio-diesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Bio-diesel can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a bio-diesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modification. Bio-diesel is simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic, and essentially free of sulphur and aromatics. This paper presents the two following identifiable topic areas as key themes: 1. preparation of an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide – as a catalyst, which can be activated by the most MeO- active groups, and can therefore be converted to methyl esters (biodiesel) from triglyceride. Methoxide (MeO-) was produced from sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and methanol (MeOH) in a batch reactor: NaOH + MeOH = H2O + Na+ + MeO-. During bio-diesel production, methoxide is incorrectly referred to as the product of mixing methanol and sodium hydroxide. An aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide – was prepared as a catalyst, by using different amounts of water at the same temperature. The reaction with lower water took place at the highest and quickest degrees of NaOH conversion and thus more MeO- active groups. The water was effective as an inhibitor.

Abstract: In order to improve the isolation effect of ultra-precision vibration isolation platform, an approach of advancing structural parameters optimization for the system based on fuzzy control is presented. This paper created a platform parametric model In ADAMS / view; completed the structural optimization under circumstances of taking the acceleration of vibration isolation platform, the system dynamic deflection and the dynamic displacement of the base as performance objective function; and applied the method of co-simulation using ADAMS and MATLAB under fuzzy control. The simulation results show that the active vibration isolation system optimized by ADAMS could effectively enhance the effect of active vibration isolation platform; the method of co-simulation provided a new way for dynamics studies of vibration isolation system.

Abstract: 0-3 PMN/EP composites were prepared with different PMN particle size of powder A(100~154μm), B(74~100μm), C(66~74μm), D(45~66μm) , E(7~35μm) and F(0.15~18μm) by resin casting method. Particle size has great effect on property of PMN/EP composite. SEM analysis indicates that PMN particles with small size dispersed more uniformly in epoxy resin. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss of 0.1PMN/0.9EP and 0.3PMN/0.7EP composites vary a little with the particle size increasing, but dielectric constant and dielectric loss of 0.4PMN/0.6EP increase rapidly. Dielectric frequency characteristics analysis suggest that the variation trend of dielectric constant with different particle size at frequency of 103～106 Hz are almost similar in 0.3 PMN/0.7EP composites, but the dielectric constant of 0.4PMN/0.6EP composite with larger particle size drops remarkably with the frequency increase.

Abstract: According to the various grey values at different regions in an image, a three-dimension (3D) solid model is reconstructed based on the pitting corrosion damage data obtained from the pre-corrosion accelerated experiment which is performed under four different time levels: 12h, 24h, 48h and 72h by CAD. An analysis procedure is developed using finite element analysis to predict stresses and the crack nucleation site due to corroded pits. Based on the observations on fatigue fracture section, the AFGROW software is used to simulate the influence of a variety of corrosion damages and corrosion pit depths on the specimen’s residual fatigue life. An effective and reliable engineering method for predicting fatigue life of corroded specimen is established on the base of this research work.